Steinbach Bill 18

The pastor of a large Steinbach church has warned local politicians, teachers, media members, and other local citizens in prominent jobs that God can replace them if they stay silent on the call to oppose Bill 18.

At his Feb. 24 sermon to thousands of parishioners at Southland Church in Steinbach, Pastor Ray Duerksen specifically cited Hanover and Steinbach councillors, Hanover school trustees, doctors in the regional health authority, MLAs and MPs, police, firefighters, teachers, and media members, and said: "God did not place you in your position because you are the only person who can do your job that well.

"If you don't do it, God will set you and I aside, and raise up someone who will."

Bill 18, which aims to fight bullying, guarantees that any student in a public or private school who asks to form a gay-straight alliance must be supported by the school. Some Christians in southern Manitoba have said the Bill infringes on their right to support schools that reflect their religious values.

A source in Steinbach who requested anonymity said Wednesday that there is local talk that some church members are planning to run their own slates in the 2014 school board and city council elections, to try to "stack" the public bodies.

Duerksen said in his Feb. 24 sermon that it was God who placed people in their positions -- including him -- and for a reason.

"We have influence. You are an Esther or a Mordechai because you have influence," the pastor said, apparently referring to a Book of Esther story in which two characters who had influence in the court of a king are praised for standing up for the "people of God" despite personal risk.

"It's (Bill 18) a legitimate fear, and I should do something about it.

"God doesn't need us," Duerksen said. "Too many people take for granted their positions of influence."

Duerksen did not respond to an interview request Wednesday.

The sermon came the same morning as a meeting and prayer session later that evening that drew 1,200 people to Steinbach Christian High School to oppose Bill 18 -- Duerksen used his sermon to exhort his parishioners to attend.

Duerksen asked those who choose to remain silent on Bill 18 how they can ever explain themselves to their children and grandchildren.

Several area municipal councillors are reportedly members of the Southland congregation. In his official on-line biography, Tory education critic MLA Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach) says his family has belonged to Southland for 15 years.

If Bill 18 passes, Duerksen said in his sermon, "We're going to lose our religious freedom.

"We lost the abortion debate in the 70s...we lost the same sex debate," and it's not going to happen again, he said.

Duerksen said that if Steinbach Christian High School is forced to allow a gay-straight alliance in the school, "That is an attack on our religious freedom."

Steinbach Christian has 235 students in Grades 5 to 12.

Meanwhile, Steinbach Regional Secondary School has 1,394 public school students in grades 10 to 12, and is the fourth-largest school in Manitoba. Hanover School Division has told Education Minister Nancy Allan that it will comply with Bill 18, and will accommodate any student who requests a gay-straight alliance.

In his sermon, Duerksen said that any sex outside of the parameters of a man and a woman married to each other "is wrong". Duerksen said that Bill 18 is the greatest challenge facing Christian churches, and said it is part of a hidden agenda to destroy Christianity.

Duerksen said that the Bible is being treated as "hate literature".

The church and the community are in 'mortal danger' over the legislation, Duerksen said.

Southland Church has scheduled a prayer session on Bill 18 Friday from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Quotes from Pastor Ray Duerksen's sermon Feb. 24 at Southland Church in Steinbach:

"Right now, we're facing the biggest challenge a Canadian church has ever faced, and that's Bill 18."

"If it passes, it means we're going to lose our religious freedom."

"It's the beginning of an incremental attempt to destroy the Canadian church -- that's the agenda behind the scenes."

"I don't want (his children and grandchildren) to ever think their father and their grandfather, and I don't ever want your children to think, your pastor didn't do anything when there was mortal danger. Oh no, not on my watch."

"Think of your children and grandkids, there's a lot on the line right now."

"Guess who promotes hate literature? The church and the pastors, so they're next in line."

"We are for sex, I think it's wonderful, in the context of marriage between one man and one woman, and sex outside of those parameters is wrong."

"There are already organizations forming in the U.S. and Canada to promote sex between adults and kids."

"It's Jesus you're serving. He knows your name and he has a plan for you. Maybe he wants you to be one of those nameless people who pulls out a sword and flashes it around, and maybe cut off some throats."

"Everybody's got to fight Bill 18...speak out intelligently. Be careful the way you talk."

"I don't want this just for Southland, this is for everybody, amen."

SIDEBAR:

Steinbach city council has demanded that Education Minister Nancy Allan review Bill 18 to ensure that it does not violate freedom of religion.

"There's a recognition that the goals and intent of Bill 18 are generally noble," Steinbach Mayor Chris Goertzen said Wednesday.

But, he said, councillors felt compelled to support constituents' concerns that the anti-bullying legislation does not adequately define bullying, and that it jeopardizes their ability to practice their faith.

Allan said Wednesday that the council motion, which passed 5-2 on Tuesday, will not dissuade her from providing "a safe and caring learning environment for all our students. There are many voices in that community."

The mayor said that every student deserves an environment free from bullying, and student safety is council's primary concern.

"We're a tolerant, progressive community," he said. "We want to make sure that people can still practice their faith and follow the law."

Goertzen said that at no point in the debate Tuesday did any councillor refer to a provision in Bill 18 that guarantees that any student in a public or private school who asks to form a gay-straight alliance must be accommodated and supported by the school.

A crowd of 1,200 people at Steinbach Christian High School Feb. 24 objected to the bill. Hanover School Division has told Allan that it will comply with the bill, which is expected to be law when school opens in September.

"Council is very conscious we need to respect others," Goertzen said. "We don't often get involved in school matters. It's valid for a council to express citizens' concerns."

Goertzen said that the position of two councillors voting against the motion because they feel council has no place in education matters has merit, but there is such strong opposition to Bill 18 that council must support its constituents.

The RM of Hanover passed a similar resolution last week, Goertzen pointed out.

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments.
All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments.
All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.